The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review of the Klamath River Renewal project.
The Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) and its partners are reviewing the draft EIS, which describes the impacts and benefits of the project. KRRC said it is grateful that FERC staff recommends approval of KRRC’s License Surrender application, concluding that the, “environmental and public benefits of the proposed action, with additional staff recommendations, would exceed those of the no-action alternative (status quo).”
KRRC said it is continuing to focus efforts on obtaining all the necessary regulatory approvals, including a final EIS and a License Surrender Order, to commence the largest dam removal and river restoration effort in U.S. history.
The draft EIS can be viewed here. FERC will now accept public comments on the draft EIS until April 18, 2022. A final EIS is expected by September 2022.
If everything goes ahead, KRRC plans removal of four dams on the Klamath River in 2023. The dams are J.C. Boyle, Copco No. 1, Copco No. 2, and Iron Gate.
